Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, explained
380,000 permanent residents a year, 370,000 new students and workers, more room for provincial nominees, and up to 200,000 extra places in 2027 for specific groups already in Canada.
IRCC has released Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan. The short version: 380,000 new permanent residents a year, the same as 2026; 370,000 new students and workers a year, down from 385,000; more room for provincial nominees; and up to 200,000 extra places in 2027, on top of the targets, for specific groups already in Canada.
The headline numbers
- Permanent residents: 380,000 in each of 2027, 2028 and 2029 (allowed range 352,500 to 422,000).
- Economic programs: 244,700 a year, 64.4% of the total.
- Family: 81,000 a year. Refugees and protected persons: 49,300. Humanitarian, compassionate and other: 5,000.
- New temporary residents: 370,000 a year (range 355,000 to 385,000): 220,000 workers and 150,000 students.
- French-speaking admissions outside Quebec: 9.5% in 2027, 10.5% in 2028 and 12% in 2029.
The 2028 and 2029 figures are provisional; IRCC confirms or adjusts them each year. IRCC also says it will keep permanent resident admissions below 1% of Canada’s population beyond 2027.
What changed for 2027
Last year’s plan already set provisional numbers for 2027. Comparing them with the new plan shows where IRCC moved places:
| Program | 2027 in last year’s plan | 2027 in the new plan |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry (Federal High Skilled) | 111,000 | 100,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 92,500 | 95,000 |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 4,000 | 6,000 |
| Rural Community Immigration Program | in the pilots line | 5,500 |
| Federal economic pilots | 8,775 | 7,900 |
| Federal business (Start-up Visa, self-employed) | 500 | 1,500 |
| Spouses, partners and children | 66,000 | 66,000 |
| Parents and grandparents | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| Protected persons in Canada | 20,000 | 20,000 |
| Government-assisted refugees | 13,250 (plus 50 blended) | 11,750 |
| Privately sponsored refugees | 16,000 | 17,550 |
| Humanitarian, compassionate and other | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| All permanent residents | 380,000 | 380,000 |
In plain terms: Express Entry gives up 11,000 places compared with what was planned, while provincial, Atlantic and rural programs gain. Last year’s pilots line (8,775) included the community pilots; this year the Rural Community Immigration Program has its own line, so pilots and rural together come to 13,400.
Every permanent resident target, 2027 to 2029
| Program | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All permanent residents | 380,000 (352,500–422,000) | 380,000 (352,500–422,000) | 380,000 (352,500–422,000) |
| Economic total | 244,700 (230,000–270,000) | 244,700 (230,000–270,000) | 244,700 (230,000–270,000) |
| Express Entry (Federal High Skilled) | 100,000 (87,000–123,000) | 100,000 (87,000–123,000) | 100,000 (87,000–123,000) |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 95,000 (83,000–106,000) | 95,000 (83,000–106,000) | 95,000 (83,000–106,000) |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 6,000 (5,000–8,500) | 6,000 (5,000–7,000) | 6,000 (5,000–7,000) |
| Rural Community Immigration Program | 5,500 (4,000–6,500) | 6,000 (5,000–7,000) | 6,500 (4,000–7,000) |
| Federal economic pilots | 7,900 (5,000–15,450) | 6,175 (4,400–8,250) | 7,400 (4,900–10,500) |
| Federal business | 1,500 (500–5,000) | 2,725 (1,500–3,500) | 1,000 (500–2,000) |
| Quebec skilled workers and business | Set by Quebec | Set by Quebec | Set by Quebec |
| Family total | 81,000 (76,000–89,000) | 81,000 (76,000–89,000) | 81,000 (76,000–89,000) |
| Spouses, partners and children | 66,000 (61,000–75,000) | 66,000 (61,000–75,000) | 66,000 (61,000–75,000) |
| Parents and grandparents | 15,000 (12,000–18,000) | 15,000 (12,000–18,000) | 15,000 (12,000–18,000) |
| Refugees and protected persons total | 49,300 (42,000–55,000) | 49,300 (42,000–55,000) | 49,300 (42,000–55,000) |
| Protected persons in Canada and dependants abroad | 20,000 (16,000–29,000) | 20,000 (16,000–29,000) | 20,000 (16,000–29,000) |
| Government-assisted refugees | 11,750 (10,000–16,000) | 11,750 (8,500–14,500) | 11,750 (8,500–14,500) |
| Privately sponsored refugees | 17,550 (14,500–20,500) | 17,550 (14,500–20,500) | 17,550 (14,500–20,500) |
| Humanitarian, compassionate and other | 5,000 (4,500–8,000) | 5,000 (4,500–8,000) | 5,000 (4,500–8,000) |
Quebec selects its own economic immigrants under the Canada–Quebec Accord. The federal economic lines add up to 215,900, which leaves about 28,800 of the economic total for Quebec (our calculation; Quebec publishes its own plan). Program ranges do not add up to category ranges.
New students and workers
New temporary arrivals are planned at 370,000 in each year: 220,000 workers (170,000 under the International Mobility Program and 50,000 under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program) and 150,000 students. Workers are about 60% of new arrivals and students about 40%. Only new arrivals count: extensions, in-Canada applications, post-graduation work permits, visitors and asylum claimants are outside these targets, and seasonal workers who must enter and leave within the same year are excluded. The aim is to keep temporary residents below 5% of Canada’s population. More on what these targets count.
Extra room outside the targets
On top of the 380,000, IRCC is adding room for people already in Canada. It says applicants do not need to apply separately or take any extra step to be considered.
- Up to 100,000 places for workers in 2027: workers already in communities outside Quebec, and their families, who are waiting for a decision on a permanent residence application under select programs now closed to new applications (including the Start-up Visa, Self-Employed Persons Program, Agri-Food Pilot and home care worker programs), or who are eligible to apply for permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program.
- Up to 100,000 places for humanitarian groups in 2027: spouses, common-law partners and children of Canadians and permanent residents who are in Canada and awaiting a final decision; remaining applicants under the Hong Kong residents pathways (closed August 31, 2026) and the Ukrainian family pathway (closed October 22, 2024); and in-Canada humanitarian and compassionate applicants already approved in principle.
- 33,000 workers through the one-time In-Canada Workers Initiative, and up to 115,000 protected persons and their in-Canada dependants, both ending in 2027. See who these cover.
IRCC says the 2027 measure is for one year only, is not a new pathway, and will not increase admissions on a recurring basis.
What it means if you are in Canada on a work permit
Most people we advise studied a one- or two-year program in Canada and are now working on a post-graduation or other work permit. For you, three things in this plan matter most:
- Provincial nomination is now almost as large a door as Express Entry: 95,000 places against 100,000. Check which provincial streams fit your job and location, including Ontario’s.
- The 2027 measure may cover you. If you are eligible to apply through the Provincial Nominee Program, or are waiting on a decision under one of the closed programs listed above, extra room is coming in 2027, and IRCC says you do not need to apply for it separately.
- Do not let your status lapse while you wait. Temporary targets stay low, so a new permit from outside Canada is harder to get. Plan your next permit or a bridging open work permit before your current one expires.
See the full plan in plain words, with every number, on our permanent residence page. To see how many people are actually becoming permanent residents against the target this year, use our PR admissions tracker. If you want to know where you stand, book a consultation with a licensed RCIC.
Sources: IRCC, Supplementary Information for the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan; Canada’s immigration levels; Managing a responsive and predictable immigration system; 2026 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration; Supplementary Information for the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan (for comparisons). General information only, not legal advice; IRCC makes all final decisions.
Questions, answered
How many permanent residents will Canada admit in 2027?
380,000, with an allowed range of 352,500 to 422,000. The same target is set for 2028 and 2029, as provisional figures that IRCC confirms or adjusts each year.
How many new study permits and work permits are planned for 2027?
370,000 new temporary residents: 220,000 workers (170,000 under the International Mobility Program and 50,000 under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program) and 150,000 students.
Do post-graduation work permits count toward the temporary resident targets?
No. IRCC counts new arrivals only. Post-graduation work permits, extensions and other in-Canada applications are not counted.
What is the 2027 time-limited measure, and do I need to apply for it?
It adds up to 100,000 places for workers already in Canada and up to 100,000 for specific humanitarian groups in 2027, outside the levels targets. IRCC says applicants do not need to apply separately or take any additional steps.
Is the Express Entry target lower in the new plan?
Yes. The Federal High Skilled target is 100,000 for 2027, compared with 111,000 planned for 2027 in last year's plan and 109,000 for 2026. The Provincial Nominee Program rises to 95,000.
